US10553464B2ActiveUtilityA1

System and method for controlling semiconductor manufacturing facility, method of manufacturing integrated circuit using the system and method, and method of manufacturing processor using the system and method

74
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTDPriority: Sep 20, 2017Filed: Apr 11, 2018Granted: Feb 4, 2020
Est. expirySep 20, 2037(~11.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
H10P 72/0604H10P 72/0612G05B 2219/37399G05B 19/41875G05B 2219/45031G05B 2219/45027H01L 21/67276Y02P90/02G05D 16/20G05B 1/03H10P 72/0606H10P 95/00
74
PatentIndex Score
2
Cited by
15
References
20
Claims

Abstract

A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing facility includes measuring output change amounts of differential pressure sensors in the facility when pressure conditions change by a number of fans. The fans are then classified into different groups and subgroups and control sequences of the subgroups are determined based on the change amounts. Difference values are then calculated, and a control signal is generated to adjust the rotation speed of the fans.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
 measuring, by grouping logic, first, second, and third output change amounts of respective first, second, and third differential pressure sensors in the semiconductor manufacturing facility when a pressure condition is changed from a first pressure condition to a second pressure condition by a plurality of fans in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and classifying some of the fans as a first group and remaining ones of the fans as a second group based on the first through third output change amounts; 
 classifying, by a sequence determinator, some of the fans in the first group as a first subgroup and remaining ones of the fans in the first group as a second subgroup, and determining a control sequence of the first subgroup and the second subgroup based on the first to third output change amounts; 
 calculating, by an index generator, a first difference value, a second difference value, and a third difference value,
 the first difference value based on a difference between a first average value, which is an average value of a first output of the first differential pressure sensor under an operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and a target value which is a target output value of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the second difference value based on a difference between a second average value, which is an average value of a second output of the second differential pressure sensor under the operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the target value, and 
 the third difference value based on a difference between a third average value, which is an average value of a third output of the third differential pressure sensor under the operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the target value; and 
 
 generating a first regulation performance index (RPI) corresponding to a difference between the first difference value and the second difference value and a second RPI corresponding to a difference between the second difference value and the third difference value; and 
 receiving, by a controller, information corresponding to the first and second groups, information corresponding to the control sequence and the first RPI and the second RPI and generating a control signal to adjust a rotation speed of each of the fans, wherein: 
 the first differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside of the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a first point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the second differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside of the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a second point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the third differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside of the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a third point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the first output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the first differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the first differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition, 
 the second output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the second differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the second differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition, and 
 the third output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the third differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the third differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein classifying some of the fans in the first group as the first subgroup by the sequence determinator includes:
 including a first fan in the first subgroup when all of the first to third output change amounts are equal to or greater than a reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition based on an adjustment in the rotation speed of the first fan among the fans. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 classifying some of the fans as the first group by the grouping logic includes including a first fan in the first group when any of the first to third output change amounts is greater than or equal to a reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition based on an adjustment of the rotation speed of the first fan among the fans, and 
 classifying of remaining ones of the fans as the second group by using the grouping logic includes including a second fan in the second group if none of the first through third output change amounts is greater than or equal to the reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the second fan among the fans. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising by the index generator:
 comparing the first output and the second output; 
 generating a default value as a first back flow index (BFI) when the first output is greater than the second output; and 
 generating a second BFI corresponding to a difference value between the first average value and the second average value, the second BFI generated in a time section in which the first output is less than the second output when the first output is less than the second output. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating, by the index generator, a correlation between the first average value and the second average value. 
 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 when a difference between the first RPI and a reference RPI is greater than a preset RPI value, the control signal changes the rotation speed of the fans in the first subgroup and then the rotation speed of the fans in the second subgroup. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first point is closest to the second point, and 
 the second point is closest to the third point. 
 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an output of the first differential pressure sensor for a first apparatus in the semiconductor manufacturing facility under the second pressure condition is different from an output of the first differential pressure sensor for the first apparatus under the first pressure condition, and wherein the first point is located within the first apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure condition is equal to the operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility. 
     
     
       10. A method of controlling a semiconductor manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
 calculating, by a first index generator, a first difference value, a second difference value, and a third difference value in a first time section, 
 the first difference value corresponding to a difference between a first average value, which is an average value of a first output of a first differential pressure sensor in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and a target value which is a target output value of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the second difference value corresponding to a difference between a second average value, which is an average value of a second output of a second differential pressure sensor in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the target value, and 
 a third difference value corresponding to a difference between a third average value, which is an average value of a third output of a third differential pressure sensor in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the target value; 
 generating a first regulation performance index (RPI) corresponding to a difference between the first difference value and the second difference value and a second RPI corresponding to a difference between the second difference value and the third difference value; 
 generating, by a second index generator, a correlation index (CI) indicating a correlation between the first average value and the second average value in the first time section; 
 outputting, by a third index generator, a default value in the first time section and generating a back flow index (BFI) corresponding to a difference value between the first average value and the second average value in a second time section in which the first output is less than the second output, wherein: 
 the first differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside of the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a first point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the second differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside of the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a second point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the third differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside of the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a third point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the first output is greater than the second output in the first time section, and 
 the second output is greater than the third output in the first time section; 
 measuring, by a grouping logic, first, second and third output change amounts of the first, second, and third differential pressure sensors, respectively, in the semiconductor manufacturing facility when a pressure condition is change d from a first pressure condition to a second pressure condition using a plurality of fans in the semiconductor manufacturing facility; 
 classifying some of the fans as a first group and remaining ones of the fans as a second group based on the first to third output change amounts; and 
 generating a control signal to adjust a rotation speed of each of the plurality of fans based on the first RPI, the second RPI, and the first and second groups. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 classifying, by a sequence determinator, some of the fans in the first group as a first subgroup and remaining ones of the fans in the first group as a second subgroup; and 
 determining a control sequence of the first subgroup and the second subgroup based on the first through third output change amounts; and 
 receiving, by a controller, information corresponding to the first and second groups, information corresponding to the control sequence and the first RPI and the second RPI, and generating the control signal to adjust the rotation speed of each of the plurality of fans, wherein: 
 the first output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the first differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the first differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition, 
 the second output change amount corresponds to the amount of change between a measured value of the second differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the second differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition, and 
 the third output change amount corresponds to the amount of change between a measured value of the third differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the third differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein classifying some of the fans in the first group as the first subgroup by the sequence determinator includes:
 including a first fan in the first subgroup when all of the first to third output change amounts are equal to or greater than a reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the first fan among the fans. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 classifying some of the fans as the first group by the grouping logic includes including a first fan in the first group when any of the first to third output change amounts is greater than or equal to a reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the first fan among the fans, and 
 classifying remaining ones of the fans as the second group by the grouping logic includes including a second fan in the second group when none of the first to third output change amounts is greater than or equal to the reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the second fan among the fans. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein an output of the first differential pressure sensor for a first apparatus in the semiconductor manufacturing facility under the second pressure condition is different from an output of the first differential pressure sensor for the first apparatus under the first pressure condition, wherein the first point is located within the first apparatus. 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first pressure condition is equal to an operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility. 
     
     
       16. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
 generating a mask layout for a set of features of a layer of the integrated circuit, the mask layout including standard cell library macros for one or more circuit features that include a processor; 
 disregarding relative positions of the standard cell library macros for compliance with layout design rules during generating the mask layout; 
 checking the relative positions of the standard cell library macros for compliance with the layout design rules after generating the mask layout; 
 modifying the mask layout by modifying any of the standard cell library macros which does not comply with the layout design rules to comply with the layout design rules; 
 generating a mask according to the modified mask layout having the set of features of the layer of the integrated circuit; and 
 manufacturing the layer of the integrated circuit according to the mask, wherein the processor is to: 
 measure first, second, and third output change amounts of respective first, second, and third differential pressure sensors in a semiconductor manufacturing facility when a pressure condition is changed from a first pressure condition to a second pressure condition using a plurality of fans in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 classify some of the fans as a first group and remaining ones of the fans as a second group based on the first to third output change amounts, 
 classify some of the fans in the first group as a first subgroup and remaining ones of the fans in the first group as a second subgroup, 
 determine a control sequence of the first subgroup and the second subgroup based on the first to third output change amounts, 
 calculate a first difference value, a second difference value, and a third difference value, wherein:
 the first difference value corresponds to a difference between a first average value, which is an average value of a first output of the first differential pressure sensor under an operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and a target value which is a target output value of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, 
 the second difference value corresponds to a difference between a second average value, which is an average value of a second output of the second differential pressure sensor under the operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the target value, and 
 the third difference value corresponds to a difference between a third average value, which is an average value of a third output of the third differential pressure sensor under the operating pressure of the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the target value, 
 
 wherein the processor is to: 
 generate a first RPI corresponding to a difference between the first difference value and the second difference value and a second RPI corresponding to a difference between the second difference value and the third difference value, 
 receives information corresponding to the first and second groups, information corresponding to the control sequence and the first RPI and the second RPI, 
 generate a control signal to adjust a rotation speed of each of the fans, 
 wherein the first differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a first point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, the second differential pressure sensor is to measures a pressure difference between outside the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a second point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, the third differential pressure sensor is to measure a pressure difference between outside the semiconductor manufacturing facility and a third point in the semiconductor manufacturing facility, and wherein: 
 the first output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the first differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the first differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition, 
 the second output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the second differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the second differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition, and 
 the third output change amount corresponds to an amount of change between a measured value of the third differential pressure sensor under the first pressure condition and a measured value of the third differential pressure sensor under the second pressure condition. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein classifying some of the fans in the first group as the first subgroup includes:
 including a first fan in the first subgroup when all of the first to third output change amounts are equal to or greater than a reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the first fan among the fans. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein:
 classifying some of the fans as the first group includes including a first fan in the first group when any of the first to third output change amounts is greater than or equal to a reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the first fan among the fans, and 
 classifying the remaining ones of the fans as the second group includes including a second fan in the second group when none of the first through third output change amounts is greater than or equal to the reference change amount when the pressure condition is changed from the first pressure condition to the second pressure condition by adjusting the rotation speed of the second fan among the fans. 
 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the processor is to:
 compare the first output and the second output, 
 generate a default value as a first BFI when the first output is greater than the second output, and 
 generate a second BFI corresponding to a difference value between the first average value and the second average value in a time section in which the first output is less than the second output when the first output is less than the second output. 
 
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the processor is to calculate a correlation between the first average value and the second average value.

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